The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 281: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

278 THE COURT OF LONDON “Oh, I mean the heir that expects property, you know, and is waiting for some one to die off,’ continued Julia. ‘This poison was of such a nature that no medical man could tell that it had been taken. It baffled all the cleverest physicians in the world; and while they were attributing the victim’s disease to a thousand other things, the real cause was nothing more or less than a few drops of this poison administered twice or three times a week. Being colourless and tasteless, it might be mixed with anything.” ‘These are indeed strange things that you are telling me,’ said Page, speaking in a low whisper, as if fearful of being overheard. ‘‘ But what was the effect of the extraordi- nary poison you are speaking of? ” “Take, for instance, a person in robust health, and who “ Well, you administer a few drops of this liquid to him, and a change comes over him in four and twenty hours. His constitution seems to give way suddenly; he grows pale, thin, weak, and sickly. His appetite fails him, he loses all energy, both mental and bodily, and literally perishes before your very eyes. It almost appears as if you can see him withering away; and in a few months he sinks into the grave.” “But this is dreadful!” exclaimed Page, with a cold 0) has never known a day’s illness,’ resumed Julia. shudder. “Did I not tell you that my father was a terrible man? ”’ said the young woman. ‘“ Well, you can now understand~ the reason why this poison is called the Heir’s Friend. But my father sold very little of it; the trathe was too dangerous, and the price was large in proportion. Moreover, he never would dispose of it in a direct way, — only through the agency of a person named Joseph Warren.”’ ‘“ Ah! a scoundrel who is better known as the Magsman? ”’ cried Page, interrogatively. “The same. Are you acquainted with him?” asked Julia. “He was the villain who thrust me into the cellar of the den where the man you call Briggs appears to act as gaoler,”’ responded the commercial traveller. “‘ But go on; I am deeply — though horribly — interested in all you are telling me. Was there no antidote to the wondrous poison you last spoke of?” ‘““Yes,’’? answered Julia. ‘‘ And the most extraordinary (FO) mm (E JOO cS (E() m